I've recently started up my own business and want to get my name out there through advertising. One way i thought of doing this was to do a 'giveaway' on facebook. I would put up a poster/flyer on my facebook page and say "Share this picture for a chance of winning a free computer!". In small text at the bottom i'd have "Winner will be chosen on xx date. Item must be collected.".

I've been told that this is illegal because its a lottery/sweepstake, and a few articles online have left me still unsure of the legality so can anyone please comfirm whether this sort of advert would be illegal?

(Original post by Gwalchgwyn)
I've recently started up my own business and want to get my name out there through advertising. One way i thought of doing this was to do a 'giveaway' on facebook. I would put up a poster/flyer on my facebook page and say "Share this picture for a chance of winning a free computer!". In small text at the bottom i'd have "Winner will be chosen on xx date. Item must be collected.".

I've been told that this is illegal because its a lottery/sweepstake, and a few articles online have left me still unsure of the legality so can anyone please comfirm whether this sort of advert would be illegal?

I talked to my father about it who used to make fruit machines, so he knows a bit about the Gambling Act, and he said it would be illegal because by making people click 'share' to enter the competition i'm effectively selling them a ticket...

(Original post by Gwalchgwyn)
I talked to my father about it who used to make fruit machines, so he knows a bit about the Gambling Act, and he said it would be illegal because by making people click 'share' to enter the competition i'm effectively selling them a ticket...

It's a "free draw" which means you don't need a licence.

It doesn't cost people anything to enter - clicking "share" is not the same as "paying".

I have heard more than once that this is against Facebook rules to do this on a personal Facebook page and that any competitions or giveaways must be done on a specified business page etc. or a page set up just for the competition. Now I'm not one hundred percent certain, but if I were you I'd email inquiries at Facebook HQ or whatever and find out first. You don't want your page shut down or your IP blocked or anything, especially when Facebook is such a powerful business tool.

(Original post by Gwalchgwyn)
I talked to my father about it who used to make fruit machines, so he knows a bit about the Gambling Act, and he said it would be illegal because by making people click 'share' to enter the competition i'm effectively selling them a ticket...